One of the most galvanizing and unforgettable films of the year.
Open Water (2004)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:187
Fresh:134
Rotten:53
Average Rating:6.6/10
Consensus: A low budget thriller with some intense moments.
Runtime: 81 mins
Genre: Horror/Suspense
Theatrical Release:Aug 6, 2004 Limited
Box Office: $30,500,882
Synopsis: Proving that the power of imagination is much more terrifying than what meets the eye, OPEN WATER is Chris Kentis's intensely realistic deep-sea drama, "based on true events." The film's leering... Proving that the power of imagination is much more terrifying than what meets the eye, OPEN WATER is Chris Kentis's intensely realistic deep-sea drama, "based on true events." The film's leering digital video camera allows viewers to float like shark-bait, stranded in the middle of the ocean with Susan and Daniel (Blanchard Ryan and Daniel Travis), a bickering married couple who have just been abandoned by their scuba-diving boat in the Caribbean. As the tension escalates between the troubled twosome--who are cold, tired, dehydrated, and more than a little scared--the tragedy of the situation is exacerbated by a series of very unfortunate conditions. While a current sweeps them far from where the boat left them, and deep dark clouds pass menacingly overhead, the sea-life just below the surface is clearly not of the friendly variety. Yes, those are real sharks, folks. Meanwhile, Daniel, who watched Shark Week on television, is no stranger to the perils at hand, and finds himself battling shock. Minutes pass like hours, with the light shifting on the water and the constant motion of the waves adding to this unfathomable nightmare. The shimmering blues of wide expanses of sea are offset by dazzling underwater photography, yet the mood remains bleak. And while no special effects, abrupt developments, or abrasive gore are present here, the film instills such fear that viewers will be frozen awaiting the surprising conclusion. A day at the beach will never be quite the same again. [More]
Starring: Blanchard Ryan, Daniel Travis, Saul Stein, Estelle Lau
Starring: Blanchard Ryan, Daniel Travis, Saul Stein, Estelle Lau, Michael E. Willimson, Christina Zenarro, Jon Charles
Director: Chris Kentis
Director: Chris Kentis
Producer: Laura Lau
Studio: Lions Gate Films
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Reviews for Open Water
A jittery, unapologetic experience worth a look for those who prefer psychological horror over broad slasher cliches.
more teasing than terrifying, failing to achieve the nerve-wracking suspense that his concept (and the movie’s buzz) suggests
Kentis ends up treading water until, finally, the whole film gets sucked under.
Risks a disastrous anticlimax with its thoroughly unexpected conclusion, but it’s an uncompromising approach one can’t help but admire.
This is the stuff nightmares are made of. It's also a lesson in how shoe-string budgets need not mean limited dramatic effect.
This micro-budget suspense film generates more actual tension than nine out of 10 Hollywood thrillers.
An ultra-low-budget uber-indie horror flick that could very well resonate with audiences outside the festival circuit.
Open Water is horribly and blissfully intense, the sort of grass-roots thriller that will have you squirming in your seat as each successive dorsal fin breaks the waves
Even though I knew all along this movie was totally manipulating me, I followed along on the terrifying ride. I feel so dirty and used. For that, Kentis and his great cast deserve big props.
Its positives outweigh its negatives; certainly it will send shivers up the spine of anyone who has ever been out on the open water and thought about the dangers down below.
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